Tuesday, March 26, 2013

Just a reminder: The replica of the Shroud of Turin is on display at Protection of the Mother of God Ukrainian Catholic Church (St. Mary's) in Bristol, PA. (March 24 - April 6, 2013)

A quote from St. Mary's website, "This year our church is being blessed during Holy Week, the day of Easter, and Bright Week following the day of our Lord's glorious Resurrection from the dead; to have a Vatican approved Replica of the Shroud of Turin that belongs to our Archeparchy of Philadelphia to be present with us." Please contact Rev. Maslak for more information about the Replica of the Shroud of Turin in Bristol, PA at 215-788-7117.

Friday, March 22, 2013

Parish Schedules of Liturgical Services for Flowery Sunday,
Great Week and the Feast of the Resurrection of Our Lord
and Savior Jesus Christ

Flowery
Sunday, Great Week and the Feast of the Resurrection of our Lord is the most
solemn and spiritually enriching season of our liturgical year and our church
services help us to relive these Divine events in the history of human
salvation. Attached are the services in
our parishes of our Philadelphia Archeparchy.
You are invited to join with our parish families in giving praise, glory
and thanksgiving to God during this holy paschal season. May you have a Holy and Joyful Pascha.

Thursday, March 21, 2013

A video on YouTube of Reverend Deacon Valter Volochen, Stamford Eparchy, proclaiming the Holy Gospel in Greek at the Inaugural Mass of the Pontificate of Pope Francis at the Vatican on March 19, 2013. http://youtu.be/GX6ryfXdXrA-------------------------

Here is an excerpt from an article in "Sower" where Reverend Deacon Valter Volochen spoke about his call to the priesthood.

Upon much reflection on my call to the priesthood, I entered the novitiate of the Basilian Fathers in Ivai, and, in 2003, I was invited to come to the United States to study at St. Josaphat Monastery, in Glen Cove, NY. In that same year, I was accepted by Bishop Basil Losten to pursue my philosophical studies at St. Basil College Seminary in Stamford, CT. After my graduation in 2007, Bishop Paul P. Chomnysky, OSBM sent me to Rome, Italy, to receive my theological education at the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas (Angelicum). Residing at the Pontifical Greek College of St. Athanasius, in Rome, I am currently pursuing a licentiate degree in Moral Theology at the Alphonsian Academy, a Graduate Institute of Moral Theology.As a child, during a catechetical education session, I was asked what I would like to do as an adult. I quickly gave the answer “I would like to be a priest,” without realizing how important my answer was. Some years later, I felt God calling me in different ways, through different people and events in my life, especially by the good example of my parish priest. During my years at the minor seminary, I was exposed to the spiritual and liturgical life of the Byzantine Church. This experience inspired me to enter the monastic life, where my vocation to the priesthood was nourished.During the past years, my spiritual journey has been enriched and strengthened by my seminary formation and my ordination to the Minor Orders, in 2009. As I am ordained to the Order of Deacon, on the Feast of the Protection of the Holy Theotokos, this October 2011, and reflect on my life and vocation, I realize how many blessings and how much joy and fulfillment my answer to God’s call has brought to my life.I pray that the Holy Spirit continue guiding my steps as I minister to God’s people in the Eparchy of Stamford, and that the Lord send more laborers for the harvest, for “the harvest is great and the workers are few.”

This workshop, conducted since 1983 by Jurij Dobczansky, is designed as an
introduction to the basic techniques of pysanka-making for beginners. People of all ages can attend this workshop, but we do ask that all children, 12 and under, be under adult supervision. Even if you are familiar with pysanka-making, this workshop can provide you with the perfect opportunity to create a pysanka, despite your busy schedule, in one afternoon, just in time for Easter. Barring accidents, everyone walks out with at least one pysanka of their own creation!!

The workshop begins with a slide show that explains some of the symbolism of Ukrainian pysanky and gives a step-by-step overview of the pysanka-making process. A small kit, which includes a kystka (stylus), beeswax and suggested designs, is yours to take home. You will be provided with eggs, candles, and dyes. Jurij and several volunteers from the community will be there to answer questions, guide, and assist you at any time.

Filling out the pre-registration form on Holy Family’s Website http://www.ucns-holyfamily.org/docs/Workshop2013_Registration.pdf or calling the Shrine at 202-526-3737 will help us gauge the number of people attending. You may also register on-site just before the workshop. Payment can be made on-site by cash, check or credit card.

Additional books and pysanka kits will also be available for purchase.

The Sisters of the Order of St. Basil the Great are
sponsoring the first in a series of workshops on the new Catechism of the
Ukrainian Greek Catholic entitled “Christ Our Pascha”. The first conference “Theology
and Catechetical Teaching in St. Basil’s Anaphora” will be held on
March 16, 2013 at 9:30 AM in the Basilian Spirituality Center in Jenkintown,
PA. The conference will be given by Rev. Dr. Oleh Kindiy, a Fulbright Scholar.
Rev. Dr. Kindiy received his Ph.D. in Theology from The Catholic University of
America (CUA), Washington, DC and his Master of Theology (equivalent) from the
L’viv Theological Academy (LTA), L’viv, Ukraine. He co-translated the “Didache”
from Greek into Ukrainian which included the historical and theological
commentary with translation.

The central idea of our Catechism, Christ Our Pascha, is that the source of our Christian life of
Faith in the Risen Christ. In the liturgical language of our Church we
participate in the Passover of Christ hence in the new life in Christ. This new life grows to maturity in spiritual
development and moral effort. Therefore there are two fundamental resources for
understanding this catechism. They are the Nicene Creed and the liturgical
anaphora of St Basil the Great.

There are three parts to this catechism: the faith of the
Church, the liturgical and sacramental life of the Church (the Prayer of the
Church) and the spiritual and moral dimensions of the Church (the Life of the
Church). Saint Basil’s Anaphora gives a rather full account of the history of
salvation culminating in the resurrection and in this way the main truths of
the Christian faith are elaborated. These truths along with the Creed
constitute the first part of the
Catechism.

This first workshop will focus on St. Basil’s Anaphora which
is the foundation for the entire Catechism. The workshop is free to
participants but donations will be accepted.
In keeping with the simplicity of the Great Fast we ask participants to
bring their own lunch. Coffee and tea will be provided. For more information call or email Sr. Ann
Laszok, OSBM at 412-260-1607 or srannl@aol.com

Tuesday, March 5, 2013

In this Year of Faith, the League of Ukrainian Catholics,
continues its religious purpose, to promote personal sanctification and it
invites all parishioners, families, friends and anyone looking to spend time in
prayer during the Great Fast, to come and participate in this our Annual Lenten
Retreat scheduled for the week end of March
15, 16, 17, 2013 being held at St. Mary’s Villa Retreat and Education
Center, Sloatsburg, NY.

This year the theme being presented is “Journey of Bread – Transformed and Deified”. Take a kernel of corn or any single grain in
your hand. Imagine the phenomenal difference between this and a field ready for
harvest. It’s just a shadow of how Our
Lord Jesus, through the Heavenly King, desires to transform, yes divinize us in
His Holy Mysteries. We will embark on
that journey of divinization during this retreat. Glorify God. This retreat is open
to anyone who feels the need to spend some time away from their everyday
activity in prayer and reflection.

Our retreat master comes to us from Buffalo, New York. Rev. Czelaw Michal Krysa, SLD, is a priest of
the Diocese of Buffalo where he presently teaches at Christ the King Seminary
in East Aurora, NY, directs the Buffalo Diocesan Office of
Divine Worship and is Rector of the Church
of St. Casimir in
Kaisertown, (Buffalo),
NY. Fr. Krysa has received bi-ritual
faculties under the Eparch of Stamford, CT.

The
cost is $175 per person, which covers the cost of lodging for Friday
night through Sunday and meals and snacks for Saturday and Sunday. REMEMBER:
NO MEAL WILL BE PROVIDED ON FRIDAY EVENING.